I've been using 10% blend for over a decade in 6 vehicles, a boat, and numerous small engines. I've never had a problem that I bould blame on the ethanol.

As far as octane boost goes, save your money....It doesn't work the way most people think. If the bottle says it raises your octane by 5 points, that means it will make 87 gas, 87.5, not 92.

 

The octane rating posted on the pump says "minimum octane". Road racers in my area that run a class for spec gas only, had some pump gas tested for octane. It all was 1-1.5 points higher than posted. So your 90 octane may well be 91-91.5.

 

i try to avoid E10 as much as I can. Not only do I get less mileage from E10, but on top of that Ethyl Alcohol is hygroscopic. In common terms, it attracts and absorbs water. That's the leading cause of problems people are having with small engines and vehicles. The longer any gas powered engine sits between fillups the more likely it is to have fuel system problems caused by E10.

 

The only time I've ever had any ethanol-specific issues was during the winter in Wisconsin when I was daily driving a '67 Imperial. I didn't have a carb spacer on it, and would get into vapor lock situations because of E10's high rvp, especially for the winter blend fuel. Added a spacer, problem solved.

I would not worry about the very, very slight fuel economy loss. You're gonna lose more than that richening the bike up over the factory setting to lower engine temps anyway.

E10 is nothing to worry or complain about.

 

for my small engines, the Stihl dealer here is selling AV fuel. 100 octane and no ethanol. 6 bucks a gallon but worth it for me knowing what ethanol can do to small engines...2 cycle in particular

 

It sounds like the EPA had already cleared the way for 15% to be introduced soon. This is despite many industries (especially Marine) objections. It looks like it may be optional for now with a seperate tank and filling nozzle that is labeled as such. http://www.allcaradvice.com/blog/105...ol-in-gasoline

 

FWIW, I own a fuel injection business, and have been doing this FI gig going on 40 years now..

I know what i'm doing and what i'm seeing

E10 is the devil

take that for what it's worth

 

You can still get 90+ octane fuel in Florida. I would like to see that law, as I don't recall it. The law is that E10 is mandatory with the exception of recreational vehicles that require non-ethanol fuel (Boats, and motorcycles being two of them). My manual on my 1998 RG says that E10 is OK to use, and suggests a minimum of 87 octane. Still, I always fuel with 92-93. If you are concerned about ethanol in your bike, you can find stations that sell E0 gas by searching here:
http://www.buyrealgas.com
Marinas will usually always have E0 gas. Getting to the pumps sometimes can be a challenge though.

 

OR you could just put a little Marine Sta-Bil in with each tank and not worry about it.

It's that simple. Sta-Bil stops the break down process of ethanol....it won't reverse it but it will prolong the "shelf-life" of what we are all going to be using.

It really is that simple.

Marine Sta-Bil is a more concentrated version. Hardly costs more and a bottle last for awhile. You'll waste more money trying to find a non-ethanol station.

 

Explain why please.